Braced nestable tables



, J l 8, 195 c. MACKINTOSH 2,842,412

BRACED NESTABLE TABLES Filed Oct. 26, 1956 IN VENTOR WVWWM m, M. M m

ATTORNEY 2,842,412 Patented July 8, 1958 BRACED NESTABLE TABLES Charles Mackintosh, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application Uctober 26, 1956, Serial No. 618,475

4 Claims. (Cl. 3111) This invention relates to the art of tables and the like, and is more particularly directed to a table, having bracing means, which is adapted for nesting with other tables of the same type, this application being a continuationin-part of my prior copending application for Sectional Platform with Nesting Sections Serial No. 497,028, filed March 28, 1955.

The subject matter of my prior application was a platform made up of a plurality of table-like units or sections, each of which was formed with a frame preferably of trapezoidal shape; at least four legs mounted at certain specified locations around the frame and supporting the same in spaced relationship with the ground; a panel, ordinarily of rectangular shape, overlying the frame and extending beyond the confines of the frame along one of the straight sides thereof and along at least part of the two inclined or oblique sides thereof; and the latching means for securing a plurality of the sections together to form a platform. The location of the legs supporting the frame was so related to the overlapping regions of the panel that the legs of one section were positioned beneath the overlapping portions of an adjacent section, and, thus, contributed to the vertical support of the panel of the adjacent section. Because of this feature of mutual support between adjacent sections, a platform constructed of a plurality of such sections possesseda satisfactorily high degree of strength and rigidity; however, when attempts were made to use a section as an independent unit separate and apart from other units, it was found that the individual sections were unable to adequately support heavy loads.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a table designed along the same general lines as the individual sections described in my prior application, but which is itself capable of sustaining heavy loads.

In a platform section of my prior application, the frame was formed of angle iron and the legs of iron tubes or pipes, welded or otherwise secured to the exterior face of the frame generally adjacent its corners. Because of the external position of the legs and the relatively short length which the legs overlapped the frame, they exhibited a tendency to spread apart longitudinally and/or transversely when the table was heavily loaded. This indicated the need for bracing means. The use of braces of various types to give added strength to the numerous structures is, of course, well known in this and other related arts. Due, however, to the requirement that the tables be capable of nesting together, and to the use of a trapezoidal-shaped frame and a trapezoidal arrangement of legs around the frame, which permits this requirement to be satisfied, the problem of designing a suitable brace is greatly complicated, as the usual bracing expedients are thereby precluded. Nevertheless, after much consideration, I have been successful in designing a particular type of brace that provides the necessary additional strength, and, yet, does not interfere with nesting together of the tables and it is the combination of this brace with the table that is an important object of the invention.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the table and bracing means of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking down on the table of Fig. 1, but with the panel removed to reveal the details of construction;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the table of Fig. 1 taken generally along the lines 33 in that figure;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section through the legs at one end of the table, taken generally along the lines 44- of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of several of the tables of Fig. 1 nested together. I

Turning now to a detailed description of the drawings, in Figs. 13, the numeral 11 designates an open frame constructed of angle or channel iron and having front and rear members 12 and 13, respectively, and left and right side members 14 and 15, respectively, which are welded or otherwise secured together at the corners to form a rigid unitary structure. To permit the table to be nested with other similar tables, frame 11 has the general shape of a trapezoid, which is to say, that front member 12 is shortened at its ends as compared to member 13, so that the side members 13 and 14 extend in a slightly oblique direction inwardly from rear to front, between the ends of the front and rear members. While the front or rear members may be curved or bent, if desired, this adds considerably to the cost of construction and provides no particular added advantage so that it is preferred that these members be straight, as shown.

Dependent from frame 11 and secured thereto by welding or other conventional means are two sets or groups of legs, a rear set 16 and a front set 17. Front set 17 is mounted on the exterior face or edge of the shortened frame member 12 and includes a leg disposed adjacent each end of member 12. Rear set 16 includes a leg mounted on the exterior edge or face of each of side members 14 and 15 adjacent the end thereof removed from that member which carries the first group of legs, i.e., member 12. All of the legs are of equal length and may be of cylindrical or any other desired crosssection.

Overlying frame 11 and supported thereby is a top panel member 21 formed of plywood or other substantially rigid sheet material, which may be detachably secured to the frame in any suitable manner, for example, by means of screws (not shown). The dimensions of panel member 21 are preferably such as to conceal frame 11 in its entirety as well as the front set of legs associated with the shortened frame member. The rear set of legs may be covered or left exposed, as desired. Depending upon the use to which the table is to be put, the panel member may be padded, upholstered, or otherwise decorated or prepared.

As can be best seen from Fig. 4, the legs at each end of the table, that is, one leg of set 17 and one leg of set i 16, are connected together by a special brace member 20. This member extends over the greater portion of its length generally parallel to the narrow axis of the table;

of the tables, the maximum projection longitudinally of the table of the long, generally parallel portion 21. of brace 20 must be less than the inner side face of the leg 16 which is at the same end of the table, and, preferably, the portion 2.1 extends along aline lying between. planes extending transversely of the longitudinal axis ofnthe table and tangential to the outerside face of leg 17 and the inner side face of leg 16, respectively, this being the position ShOWn in the drawings. It is advantageous from thestandpoint of increasing the vertical strength of brace 20 to construct it of two strong metal rods, similar in shape, which are welded together substantially throughout their length. i

The legs of the table may be braced against lateral or sideways movement by means of a brace 25 in the form of a rod extending upwardly and inwardly from the point intermediate the length of each leg of front set 17 to a point on the short member 12 of frame 11 that is spaced a considerable distance inwardly from the ends thereof. It is not possible to use a similar brace between the back set of legs and the long frame member 13 since this would obstruct nesting.

A consideration of Figs. 2 and will indicate quite clearly that due to the particular design of braces as well as the location of braces 25, neither of them will in the least interfere with the nesting of the tables.

It should be readily apparent from the description that has been given that the table of the present invention provides an unusually strong, rugged and rigid structure that is capable of diverse uses. Since a large number of these tables can be nested for storage purposes, and in this condition require only a minimum amount of storage space, they are particularly useful as banquet tables and in schools. They may also be used for medical examination tables in which instance it would be desirable to provide a roll of paper between two legs at one end of the table, the roll being supported by inwardly biased leaf springs secured at one end to the legs and carrying at the other inwardly extending pins to fit into the core of the paper roll. Other uses, of course, will be suggested to those skilled in the art.

It should be kept in mind that minor modifications and variations in the design and construction of the table of the present invention are possible. Consequently, it is not intended that the invention should be construed as limited to the specific form that has been shown and described but only by way of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, that which is claimed is:

1. A tableadapted for nesting with other tables of the same kind which comprises a four-sided frame having one side shortened at each end compared to the opposite side, a leg mounted on the exterior of said shortened side adjacent each end thereof, a leg mounted on the exterior of the two frame sides that are adjacent said shortened side at the end of each of said two sides remote from said shortened side, a panel overlying said frame, and a brace member connecting the two legs at each end of the table extending between points located intermediate the length of said legs, said brace member having an elongated center portion, extending generally transversely of the longitudinal axis of the table and lying between planes which extend transversely of said axis and are respectively tangential to the outer face of the leg adjacent the shortened side and the inner face of the leg remote therefrom, and curved end portions connecting said center portion to the outer and inner faces of the respective legs.

2. A table adapted for nesting with other tables of the same kind which comprises a four-sided frame having one side shortened at each end compared to the opposite side, a legmounted on the exterior of said shortened side adjacent each end thereof, a leg mounted on the exterior of the frame sides that are adjacent said shortened side at the end of each of said sides that is remote from said shortened side, a panel overlying said frame, and a brace member connecting the two legs at each end of the table extending between points located intermediate the length of said legs, said brace member having the shape of a greatly elongated S with the ends thereof connected respectively to the outer face of the leg adjacent the shortened frame side and the inner face of the leg remote therefrom, the maximum longitudinal projection of the brace being less than the inner face of said remote leg.

3. The table of claim 2 wherein said brace member is constructed of at least two rods, one superposed on the other, secured together substantially throughout their entire length.

4. The table of claim 2 including a further brace member extending angularly between those legs that are adjacent said shortened frame side and said shortened frame side.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,380,042 Cook May 31, 1921 1,924,989 Hallowell Aug. 29, 1933 2,480,559 Derse Aug. 30, 1949 2,657,965 Bergen Nov. 3, 1953 2,700,582 Munsch Jan. 25, 1955 2,709,119 Chapman et al. Feb. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 173,825 Austria July 15, 1952 184,842 Switzerland June 30, 1936 

